My laptop's Wi-Fi is poor, but my phone's is great: what should I do?

Have you noticed that The Wi-Fi on my laptop keeps dropping out., the speed drops to an unacceptable level, and pages take forever to load? iPhone or Samsung Nearby, the network coverage is excellent—no lag or packet loss. This situation is more common than you might think: according to service center statistics, up to 30% of calls regarding "bad internet" are related to uneven Wi-Fi performance across devices.

What's the catch? Why? the same connection Is your router behaving differently? It's not always the router that's at fault—often the problem lies in your laptop settings, adapter drivers, or even the physical properties of signal transmission. In this article, we'll look into it. 7 Key Reasons Why Wi-Fi Performance Differences Between a Laptop and a PhoneWe'll also provide checklists for diagnosing and correcting each of them. No fluff or general advice—only concrete steps.

Spoiler: in 60% of cases, it’s not the router that’s to blame, but Windows power saving settings or outdated network card drivers. But there are also more insidious scenarios—for example, when a laptop jams itself due to improperly positioned antennas. Let's look at these in turn.

1. Hardware differences: why a phone has better reception than a laptop

Smartphones and laptops use different Wi-Fi standards and antenna solutions. Modern iPhone 15 or Google Pixel 8 support Wi-Fi 6E with frequency 6 GHz, while budget laptops are often limited Wi-Fi 5 (802.11ac) on 5 GHz or even 2.4 GHzThe difference in antenna sensitivity can reach 10–15 dB — it's like comparing the hearing of a human and a bat.

Key hardware factors:

• 📱 Mobile chips: Processors Qualcomm Snapdragon or Apple A-series integrate advanced Wi-Fi modules with support MU-MIMO And Beamforming, which are more active in "catching" the signal.
• 💻 Laptop adapters: Cheap models (for example, Realtek RTL8188EE) often skimp on signal boosters, which results in loss of connection at distances greater than 10 meters from the router.
• 📡 Number of antennas: Phones are used 2×2 MIMO (two antennas), and laptops - 1×1 (one), which reduces stability by 30–40%.

How do I check my adapter? Windows open Device Manager → Network Adapters and find the model. For example, if there Intel AX200 - you have Wi-Fi 6, If Broadcom 4313 - obsolete Wi-Fi 4. For comparison: even the average Samsung Galaxy A54 will outperform such an adapter in speed by 2-3 times.

2. Windows energy saving settings are choking Wi-Fi

The most common reason for a drop in speed is Automatic shutdown of the network adapter To save battery power, Windows limits the Wi-Fi module's power by default when the laptop is running on battery power. This results in a weaker signal and reduced speeds. 1–5 Mbps.

How to fix it:

1. Open Control Panel → Power Options → Change plan settings → Change advanced power settings.
2. Find the section Wireless Network Adapter Settings → Power Saving Mode.
3. Install maximum productivity for both modes (mains and battery).

Make sure the laptop is connected to a 220V power supply (not battery power)|

Open Additional Power Settings in Windows|

Find the "Wireless Network Adapter Settings" section|

Set both modes to "Maximum Performance"|

Restart your laptop to apply the changes-->

If the speed increases after these steps, the problem was precisely energy saving. But there is a catch: on some laptops (especially with adapters) Realtek) These settings are reset after a Windows update. You'll have to repeat the procedure every 2-3 months.

3. Outdated or faulty network card drivers

Wi-Fi adapter drivers are the software "bridge" between the hardware and the operating system. If they are outdated or installed incorrectly, the laptop may lose data packets and connect to the network at reduced speeds.1–54 Mbps instead of 300–1000 Mbps) or even fall off every 5 minutes.

Signs of a driver problem:

• ⚠️ In Device Manager There is a yellow triangle next to the adapter.
• 🔄 The speed jumps from 100 Mbps to 1 Mbps for no apparent reason.
• 🔌 The laptop connects to the network, but pages don't load (DNS errors).

How to update the driver correctly:

1. Download the latest version from official website of the manufacturer (not via Windows Update!).
   • Intel: intel.ru → "Support" → enter the adapter model.
   • Realtek: realtek.com → "Downloads" section.

Remove the old driver via device Manager (right click → "Remove device").

Install the downloaded driver and restart your laptop.

What should I do if Wi-Fi disappears completely after updating the driver?

If after installing a new driver the adapter is no longer detected:

1. Roll back to the previous version via Device Manager → Adapter Properties → Driver → Roll Back Driver.

2. Try the driver version from the laptop manufacturer's website (for example, Lenovo or HP), not the chipset.

3. If nothing helps, use System Restore (dot before update).

Important: Never use drivers from third-party sites (like DriverPack). They often contain viruses or outdated versions, which will only make the problem worse. Also, avoid "universal" drivers from Microsoft—they're rarely optimized for a specific adapter.

4. Interference and physical obstacles: why a laptop "jams" itself

Wi-Fi signal at frequency 2.4 GHz Extremely sensitive to interference. A laptop may have worse network reception than a phone due to:

• 📦 Metal case: Aluminum MacBook or laptops Dell XPS shield the signal, reducing its power by 20–50%.
• 🔋 Antenna locationsMost laptops have antennas located under the keyboard. If you work with the laptop on your lap, your body will block the signal.
• 📡 Neighboring networks: On frequency 2.4 GHz Typically, 10–15 networks are active simultaneously, which creates interference. Phones cope better with this thanks to adaptive algorithms.

How to check the interference level:

1. Download the utility WiFi Analyzer (Android) or NetSpot (Windows/macOS).
2. Check how many networks are connected to your channel. If there are more than 3-4, it's critical.
3. Switch your router to a less busy channel (for example, from 6 to 11) or go to 5 GHz.

If you have a laptop with a metal case (MacBook Pro, Dell XPS 13), try using an external USB Wi-Fi adapter (for example, TP-Link Archer T2U). This can increase the speed by 2-3 times due to the remote antenna.

5. Router settings: why it "loves" phones more than laptops

Routers often prioritize devices based on connection type or MAC addressFor example, some models (e.g., ASUS RT-AX88U) by default give preference to mobile devices, considering them more critical for a stable connection.

What to check in the router settings (192.168.1.1 or 192.168.0.1):

• 🔄 QoS (Quality of Service): If priority is enabled for voice traffic (VoIP) or streaming, the laptop may be left on a starvation diet.
• 📱 Band Steering: The function automatically switches devices between 2.4 GHz And 5 GHzSometimes it mistakenly "sticks" the laptop to an overloaded frequency.
• 🔒 MAC address filtering: Make sure that your laptop's address is not blacklisted (section Wireless → MAC Filter).

How to find the MAC address of a laptop:

1. Click Win + R, enter cmd and run the command:

ipconfig /all

2. Find the line Physical address for the adapter Wi-Fi.

It's also worth updating your router's firmware. Outdated versions (especially on TP-Link And D-Link) may contain bugs that cause laptops to connect at reduced speeds. The update resolves the issue in 40% of cases.

6. Software conflicts: antiviruses, VPNs, and background tasks

Laptops, unlike phones, are often loaded with background processes that interfere with Wi-Fi. For example:

• 🛡️ Antiviruses (For example, Kaspersky or Avast) scan all traffic, which increases delays up to 200–500 ms.
• 🌍 VPN clients (For example, NordVPN or ProtonVPN) redirect traffic through remote servers, reducing speed by 30–70%.
• 🖥️ Windows Updates: Background downloading of updates can consume up to 80% of the channel.

How to diagnose:

1. Open Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) and sort the processes by network consumption.
2. If some process (svchost.exe, VPN client) is loading the network at 100% - temporarily disable it.
3. Check your speed without antivirus: disable network protection in the settings (for example, in Kaspersky This Settings → Security → Network).

Also worth checking out DNS serversIf your laptop uses your ISP's servers, they may be overloaded. Try replacing them with 1.1.1.1 (Cloudflare) or 8.8.8.8 (Google):

1. Open Control Panel → Network and Internet → Network and Sharing Center → Change adapter settings.
2. Right click on Wi-Fi → Properties → Internet Protocol Version 4 (TCP/IPv4) → Properties.
3. Check the box Use the following DNS server addresses and enter 1.1.1.1 And 8.8.4.4.

7. Viruses and malware: hidden traffic thieves

If your laptop suddenly starts slowing down on Wi-Fi, but your phone is working fine, check your system for viruses. Some types of malware include:

• 🕵️ Botnets: They use your laptop for DDoS attacks, loading the network to 100%.
• ⛏️ Miners: They secretly mine cryptocurrency by consuming internet traffic.
• 📤 Adware: Loads ads in the background, creating lags.

How to check:

1. Open Task Manager and see if an unknown process is loading the network (for example, svchost.exe with an unusual PID).
2. Check outgoing connections with the command:

netstat -ano | findstr "ESTABLISHED"

3. If you see suspicious IP addresses (for example, from China or the Netherlands), scan the system. Malwarebytes or Dr.Web CureIt.

Important: Even if your antivirus software doesn't find anything, this doesn't guarantee your system is clean. Some rootkits disguise themselves as system processes. As a last resort, reinstall Windows or restore to a restore point.

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about the problem

❓ Why does Wi-Fi work worse on my MacBook than on my Windows laptop?

Cause: Apple uses its own Wi-Fi drivers, which sometimes conflict with some routers (especially at frequencies 5 GHz). Also in macOS There are no flexible power saving settings for the adapter, like in Windows.

Solution:

1. Update macOS to the latest version.
2. Disable it in your router settings. 802.11r (Fast Roaming) - It doesn't work well with Mac.
3. Reset network settings: System Preferences → Network → Wi-Fi → Advanced → Remove All Networks.

❓ Could the problem be with the provider?

Theoretically yes, but unlikely. If the problem was on the provider's side, all devices You'd experience lag on the network, not just your laptop. However, it's worth checking:

• 📞 Call support and ask if they limit the speed for certain types of devices (sometimes providers throttle traffic from PCs).
• 🔄 Reboot your router and check if the situation has changed.

If the laptop works fine after rebooting the router, the problem was a temporary failure of the provider's equipment.

❓ Why is the speed normal via cable, but not via Wi-Fi?

This is a classic sign. problems with the wireless adapter or interferencePossible reasons:

• 🔌 The laptop's Wi-Fi adapter is operating at reduced power (see the section on energy saving).
• 📡 The router is overloaded on the frequency 2.4 GHz (switch to 5 GHz).
• 🛠️ The adapter antenna is damaged (relevant for laptops that are frequently moved).

First of all, check the speed on 5 GHzIf it's normal, the problem is in the workload. 2.4 GHz.

❓ How can I check if my antivirus is blocking my Wi-Fi?

Temporarily disable your antivirus and check your speed. If it increases, it's the problem. Set up exceptions:

• IN Kaspersky: Settings → Security → Network → Do not monitor traffic for trusted networks.
• IN Avast: Settings → Security → Firewall → Set up application rules.

If the speed hasn't changed after disabling the antivirus, there's a different reason.

❓ Could the problem be with the Windows version?

Yes, especially if you have Windows 10/11 with automatic updatesSome builds contain bugs in the TCP/IP stack, causing Wi-Fi to become unstable. For example, after updating KB5001330 Many users complained about connection drops.

Solution:

1. Uninstall the latest updates: Settings → Update & Security → View update history → Uninstall updates.
2. Roll back your system to a restore point before the problem occurred.

If none of the tips helped, the problem may be in physical malfunction Your laptop's Wi-Fi module. In this case, contact a service center for diagnostics. The average cost to replace an adapter ranges from 1,500 to 4,000 rubles, depending on the model.